^ 12-S^ 


THE  LAND  OF  THE 

Southern  Cross 


VAST,  FRUITFUL,  LOVELY 
BENIGHTED 

BRAZIL 


BOARD  OF  MISSIONS,  M.  E.  CHURCH.  SOUTH 
810  BROADWAY,  NASHVILLE.  TENN. 


We  gratefully  acknowledge  our  indebtedness  to 
our  brethren  of  the  Southern  Presbyterian  Board 
for  the  privilege  of  reprinting  from  their  publica- 
tions much  of  the  matter  contained  in  this  tract. 


The  Land  of  the  South 
ern  Cross — Brazil 


PROBABLY  as  little  is  known  about  Brazil 
as  any  land  in  which  we  are  doing  mission 
work.  There  is  comparatively  little  inter- 
course between  that  country  and  ours.  The  trade 
between  the  two,  while  considerable  and  increase 
ing,  is  not  great.  Not  many  Americans  go  to  Bra- 
zil, nor  many  Brazilians  come  to  the  United  States. 
Though  situated  on  the  contiguous  continents  of 
North  and  South  America,  a long  and  trying 
journey  separates  the  two  countries.  In  their  po- 
litical history  there  has  been  little  contact  between 
the  two  nations. 

Brazil  is  a land  of  Vast  resources  and  a splendid 
future,  but  its  people  have  not  hitherto  been  a 
great  force  in  the  world.  It  is  practically  without 
a literature,  and  in  its  development,  which  has 
been  slow,  it  has  shown  few  of  those  striking  fea- 
tures which  have  attracted  attention  to  other 
countries.  So  it  has  happened  that  our  people 
possess  little  definite,  detailed,  and  accurate  knowl- 
edge about  Brazil. 

Physical  Features. 

Physically,  Brazil  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable 
countries  in  the  world.  Its  shape  suggests  a 
huge  fan.  Its  handle  is  the  narrow  strip  that 
slips  down  between  the  Atlantic  Ocean  and  the 
Argentine  Republic.  The  body  of  the  fan  spreads 
out  northwestward  toward  the  Andes  Mountains 
and  northeastward  along  the  Atlantic  shore.  It 
comprehends  the  heart  of  South.  America.  It 
[3] 


would  take  another  Texas  added  to  the  United 
States  to  make  this  country  as  large  as  Brazil. 
It  is  the  home  of  summer.  The  four  seasons  to 
to  which  we  are  accustomed  are  not  distinguished 
there.  It  is  a land  of  flowers  and  beauty.  The 
climate  is  enervating,  especially  in  the  Amazon 
Valley  and  along  the  coast,  but  bracing  on  the 
table-lands.  It  is  no  wonder  that  our  missionaries 
have  difficulty  in  adjusting  themselves  to  these 
novel  climatic  conditions  and  in  preserving  their 
health.  The  country  is  fertile  and  productive  to 
a high  degree;  too  much  so  for  the  good  of  the 
people.  The  tropical  products  grow  in  such  abun- 
dance that  the  people  are  somewhat  relieved  of 
the  necessity  of  hard  labor  to  secure  a living,  and 
this  is  an  invitation  to  idleness,  to  which  the 
climate  is  also  a constant  temptation. 

Development  of  the  Country. 

Although  the  first  European  colonists  came  to 
Brazil  about  the  same  time  that  the  Pilgrim  Fa- 
thers came  to  North  America,  the  resources  of 
that  splendid  country  are  as  yet  almost  wholly 
undeveloped.  Instead  of  the  90,000,000  people 
who  inhabit  the  States  of  North  America,  the  last 
census  gave  Brazil  a population  of  less  than  20,- 
000,000.  There  are  places  where  gold  nuggets  are 
found  lying  about  on  the  surface  of  the  ground, 
and  many  places  where  good  wages  could  be  made 
washing  the  sand  in  the  streams  for  gold,  and  yet 
gold  mining  is  carried  on  to  a very  limited  extent. 
There  are  railroads  connecting  most  of  the  larger 
cities  near  the  coast,  and  two  or  three  that  pene- 
trate the  interior.  A trunk  line  from  Rio  de  Ja- 
neiro to  Buenos  Ayres  has  just  been  completed, 
an  enterprise  of  great  importance.  These  roads 


have  been  built  chiefly  by  English  capital,  and 
are  only  the  beginning  of  what  is  necessary  to 
furnish  transportation  for  the  people  and  the 
products  of  the  soil.  Interior  transportation  is 
chiefly  done  on  two-wheeled  wagons,  whose 
screeching  wood  axles  announce  their  approach 
for  miles  before  they  come  in  sight,  pulled  by 
ox  teams  over  roads  which  are  simply  gullies. 
The  transportation  of  his  farm  produce  by  this 
means  costs  the  farmer  almost  as  much  as  he 
can  get  for  it  when  he  reaches  the  market.  It  is 
no  wonder,  therefore,  that  Brazilian  trade  plays 
such  a relatively  insignificant  part  in  the  world’s 
commerce.  But  it  is  growing  yearly. 

Political  Conditions. 

Since  1889  Brazil  has  been  a republic,  with  a 
constitution  modeled  after  our  own.  It  is  an 
admirable  constitution.  Four  features  of  it  are 
of  particular  interest  to  us.  The  first  is  restricted 
suffrage.  Among  the  classes  not  permitted  to 
vote  are  those  who  are  ignorant  of  the  alphabet 
and  '‘members  of  monastic  orders,  companies, 
congregations,  or  communities,  of  whatever  de- 
nomination, who  are  subject  to  vows  of  obedi- 
ence, rule,  or  statute  which  implies  the  surrender 
of  individual  liberty.”  Both  of  these  provisions 
are. aimed  at  the  Catholic  Church,  for  that  Church 
in  South  America  fosters  ignorance;  and  if  the 
second  provision  were  strictly  enforced,  it  would 
rule  out  the  Catholic  clergy  entirely.  That,  of 
course,  is  not  done;  but  this  item  of  the  constitu- 
tion shows  the  trend  of  political  thought  in  Bra- 
zil with  respect  to  the  Catholic  clergy.  Another 
interesting  feature  of  the  constitution  is  the  pro- 
vision for  the  freedom  of  the  press,  which  is  an- 
[ 5 ] 


other  thrust  at  the  genius  of  Romanism.  But  of 
more  interest  still  is  the  provision  for  religious 
liberty.  On  this  point  the  constitution  is  explicit 
and  ample.  ^‘All  persons  and  religious  profes- 
sions may  exercise  publicly  and  freely  the  right  of 
worship,  and  may  associate  themselves  for  that 
purpose,  acquire  property,  etc.’’  Civil  marriage  is 
required,  and  it  is  specified  that  it  shall  be  gratui- 
tous. This  last  is  a distinct  blow  at  the  clergy,  who, 
before  the  republic  was  established,  were  alone  au- 
thorized to  perform  the  rite  of  matrimony.  They 
frequently  charged  both  for  this  and  for  funeral 
rites  such  exorbitant  sums  that  it  was  a source  of 
large  income.  Poor  people  frequently  could  not 
pay  the  fee,  which  led  to  illegitimate  unions. 

In  these  respects  the  law  is  all  that  our  mis- 
sionaries could  ask.  But  it  would  be  a mistake  to 
suppose  that  the  people  practice  these  broad  prin- 
ciples of  liberty.  Unfortunately,  the  law  is  not 
enforced.  The  sympathies  and  the  prejudices  of 
the  masses  are  overwhelmingly  on  the  side  of  the 
Catholic  clergy.  The  officials  are  not  Romanists 
as  a rule,  but  are  often  intimidated  by  them,  so 
that  these  beautiful  laws  are  in  many  respects 
more  of  a dead  letter  than  a real  check  upon  the 
fanatical  prejudices  of  the  people.  There  is,  how- 
ever, a growing  class  of  independent,  intelligent, 
honorable  political  leaders  who  in  time  will  ma- 
terially change  the  condition  of  things.  The  vis- 
its of  Mr.  Root  and  William  Jennings  Bryan  did 
much  to  stimulate  the  statesmen  of  the  republic 
to  higher  conceptions  of  civic  righteousness. 

Social  Conditions. 

About  one-third  of  the  people  have  pure  Portu- 
guese blood  in  their  veins.  Brazil  was  settled 
[6] 


and  long  dominated  by  the  Portuguese.  There 
are  a few  thousands  of  Indians  and  many  negroes, 
and  a large  part  of  the  population  in  the  central 
and  northern  sections  is  of  mixed  blood.  There 
are  no  well-defined  social  distinctions  between 
these  various  classes.  The  pure  Caucasian  blood 
is  preferred,  and  every  one  desires  the  straight 
hair,  which  is  a sign  of  that  blood;  but  the  ne- 
groes and  mulattoes  are  not  socially  debarred. 

The  standard  of  morals  is  low.  Truthfulness 
and  chastity  are  not  common  virtues.  Social 
purity  is  not  the  rule.  According  to  the  census  of 
1890,  one-sixth  of  the  population  of  the  country 
were  born  out  of  wedlock.  Many  of  the  priests 
live  in  open  concubinage ; and  while  they  would 
be  deposed  from  office  if  they  married,  it  is  not 
considered  out  of  the  way  for  them  to  have  their 
“families”  and  introduce  their  children.  The 
Romanist  Church  has  thus  openly  put  itself  upon 
the  side  of  impurity.  Society  is  corrupted  at  its 
fountain.  The  sacred  and  beneficent  influences  of 
real  home  life  are  almost  unknown.  The  low  esti- 
mate put  upon  marriage,  the  prevalence  of  ille- 
gitimacy, and  the  practices  of  the  priests  have 
broken  many  of  the  safeguards  of  chastity.  The 
preaching  of  a pure  gospel  is  the  only  remedy. 

The  Brazilians  are  naturally  indolent.  The  lack 
of  thrift  and  energy  is  partly  accounted  for  by 
the  climate  and  partly  by  the  religious  customs  of 
the  people.  There  are  many  saints’  days,  which 
are  given  over  to  gross  and  noisy  festivities,  when 
the  people  ought  to  be  at  work.  Great  numbers 
seek  to  make  their  living  in  one  way  or  another 
out  of  the  government.  But  this  is  true  of  other 
countries. 

There  are  many  admirable  elements  of  Brazil- 
[7] 


ian  character.  “They  are  hospitable,  friendly, 
and  show  great  respect  and  deference  to  the 
stranger  who  conies  into  their  midst,  especially 
if  he  is  a traveler.  This  element  of  hospitality 
and  generosity,  under  gospel  influences,  becomes 
a prominent  and  powerful  factor  in  the  develop- 
ment of  Christian  character.” 

Religious  Conditions. 

Romanism  has  had  a free  hand  to  do  its  best, 
or  worst,  for  three  hundred  years.  What  has  it 
done  for  Brazil? 

1.  It  has  fostered  ignorance.  According  to  the 
last  census,  after  about  three  centuries  of  Romish 
domination,  the  proportion  of  illiteracy  in  Brazil 
was  eighty-five  per  cent.  Under  its  tutelage  the 
Bible,  the  corner  stone  of  modern  culture,  has 
become  an  unknown  book. 

2.  It  has  * established  idolatry.  Everywhere  in 
the  Churches  and  homes  are  seen  images  of  the 
Virgin  and  of  the  saints,  which  are  generally 
worshiped  by  the  people. 

3.  It  has  developed  superstition.  Authentic  ex- 
amples of  Romish  superstition  could  be  given 
without  number,  such  as  the  miraculous  healing 
power  of  certain  images  and  relics. 

4.  It  has  destroyed  the  spirituality  of  religion. 
It  has  put  Mary  above  Christ,  the  pope  in  the 
place  of  God,  and  made  religious  conduct  consist 
in  obeying  the  foolish  commandments  of  sinful 
men. 

5.  It  has  divorced  religion  from  morality.  It 
proposes  to  put  a man  in  right  relations  with  God 
and  yet  leave  him  free  to  follow  his  carnal  appe- 
tites. It  makes  a man  religious  without  making 
him  good.  A lying,  lecherous  man,  who  has  sur- 

[ 8 ] 


rendered  his  moral  responsibility  into  the  hands 
of  his  superior,  has  power  to  direct  conduct,  for- 
give sins,  to  deliver  from  purgatory.  On  the 
foundations  of  ignorance  it  has  built  up  an  idola- 
trous ecclesiasticism  out  of  the  ruins  of  both 
Christianity  and  morality. 

6.  It  has  produced  its  inevitable  fruit,  infidelity. 
The  cultured  classes,  even  if  they  retain  connec- 
I tion  with  the  Church,  have  lost  their  faith  and  are 
wandering  in  the  mazes  of  skepticism.  The  re- 
, public  is  full  of  agnostics  and  infidels. 

I Ought  we  to  send  missionaries  to  this  country? 
The  question  answers  itself.  If  the  gospel  needs 
to  be  preached  anywhere  in  the  world,  it  is  need- 
ed in  Brazil.  And  yet  little  has  been  done  to  sup- 
ply this  vast,  this  urgent,  this  crying  need.  The 
Presbyterians  have  been  at  work  in  Brazil  nearly 
forty  years,  and  have  accomplished  excellent  re- 
sults. The  Methodists  (Southern)  were  the  next 
upon  the  ground,  having  established  their  mission 
in  1876,  and  have  had  large  success.  The  Episco- 
palians began  work  in  1889.  The  Baptists’  (South- 
ern) mission  was  established  jn  1882,  and  the 
blessing  of  God  upon  the  work  has  been  con- 
spicuous. The  Presbyterians  began  in  1869.  In 
1873  they  had  two  missions.  North  and  South 
Brazil. 

Our  Own  Work. 

We  began  work  in  Brazil  in  1876  under  the  su- 
perintendency of  J.  j.  Ransom.  Since  that  time 
the  work  has  grown  immensely.  In  1879  we 
had  only  six  Brazilians  in  our  Church;  now  we 
have  6,191,  more  than  a thousandfold  growth  in 
thirty-two  years.  They  are  a liberal  people.  In 
1906  they  averaged  almost  $6  per  member  in  their 
gifts  to  the  Church.  We  have  two  Annual  Con- 
[ 9 ] 


ferences,  59  missionaries  (including  wives),  24 
churches,  21  Brazilian  preachers,  3,663  Sunday 
school  scholars,  1,510  Epworth  Leaguers,  and  a 
total  contribution  of  $12,130  for  the  support  of 
the  ministry. 

So  far  as  Methodism  is  concerned,  the  field 
and  the  responsibility  are  ours.  The  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  has  withdrawn  from  the  field 
and  turned  it  over  to  us. 

Last  year  our  nine  schools  showed  an  enroll- 
ment of  1,164.  Our  chief  school  is  Granbery  Col- 
lege, at  Juiz  de  Eora.  It  is  embarrassed  by  its 
very  success.  The  president  is  pleading  for  en- 
largement to  meet  the  demand  of  a growing  pat- 
ronage. In  1903  the  college  had  only  50  stu- 
dents. In  five  years  this  number  had  grown  to 
291,  and  during  the  past  year  over  400  were  on 
the  rolls.  Dental  and  Pharmaceutical  Departments 
have  been  added  to  the  Literary  and  Theological, 
and  in  both  are  found  women,  who,  as  in  Japan, 
are  taking  their  places  in  professional  life.  What 
does  Granbery  need?  A suitable  building  which 
shall  be  the  center  of  biblical  instruction  and 
evangelistic  training.  This  building,  costing  $15,- 
000,  should  be  put  up  in  memory  of  our  noble 
bishop  who  organized  the  Brazil  Mission  Confer- 
ence. It  should  be  done  because  we  believe  Bra- 
zil can  be  evangelized  only  through  a trained 
native  ministry. 

We  have  a Publishing  House  in  Rio  de  Ja- 
neiro which  publishes  the  Conference  paper  and 
the  Sunday  school  literature. 

The  People’s  Central  Institute,  in  Rio  de  Ja- 
neiro, is  one  of  our  very  greatest  missionary 
enterprises.  It  is  an  institutional  plant  intended 
to  reach  the  vast  number  of  sailors  and  the  down- 
[10] 


town  population  of  that  great  city.  It  has  day 
and  night  schools,  baths,  gymnasium,  a playground 
feature,  a dispensary,  and  through  all  runs  the 
evangelistic  aim  and  method.  Hundreds  of  chil- 
dren and  young  people  are  being  reached,  and 
the  number  is  constantly  increasing.  The  chil- 
dren and  young  people  are  being  taught  the  real 
meaning  and  practice  of  prayer.  During  the  first 
year  of  the  day  school  62  matriculated ; the  second 
year  12^^, new  ones  came  in;  the  third  year  115 
new  ones;  and  last  year  132  were  added,  making 
433  who  first  and  last  have  been  in  our  day 
school.  More  than  150  have  been  in  the  night 
classes.  The  Sunday  school  reached  iii  as  the 
highest  attendance  in  1910,  and  the  year  1911  be- 
gan with  double  that  number.  This  work  has  had 
the  services  of  two  missionaries  of  the  Woman's 
Missionary  Council,  Misses  Dye  and  Richmond, 
who  have  done  most  efficient  work  among  the 
women  and  girls  and  in  the  dispensary,  day  school, 
and  Sunday  school.  The  promise  of  this  fine 
plant  is  great. 

It  is  the  universal  testimony  That  our  native 
preachers  are  men  of  good  lives,  and  this  has 
great  significance  among  a people  accustomed  to  a 
corrupt  priesthood.  The  same  is  true  of  our  mem- 
bership. They  are  exemplifying  the  fruits  of  the 
gospel  in  uprightness  and  steadiness  of  character, 
and  for  liberality  they  are  deserving  of  all  praise. 
Many  of  our  Churches  are  approaching  the  point 
of  self-support. 

Owing  to  the  growth  of  our  work  and  the  vast- 
ness of  the  territory,  we  have  been  compelled  to 
divide  our  work.  The  South  Brazil  Conference, 
which  was  organized  by  Bishop  Lambuth  in  1910, 
occupies  the  southern  end  of  the  country.  The 
E 11  ] 


growth  of  the  Church  there  has  been  remarkable. 
In  1901  this  territory  was  taken  over  from  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Then  there  were 
^bout  250  members.  Now  there  are  1,320,  and 
constantly  larger  gains.  In  Porto  Alegre  alone 
there  are  two  good  congregations,  almost  self- 
supporting. 

Is  there  not  reason  to  hope  that  this  great  and 
fruitful  Land  of  the  Southern  Cross  may  soon 
become  indeed  the  land  of  the  cross,  overstarred 
by  the  light  and  glory  of  the  gospel  of  Christ? 
Its  future  depends  largely  upon  the  fidelity  of  the 
Church  at  home  in  carrying  out  the  last  com- 
mand of  our  Lord. 


[12] 


